While the Obama administration continues its shameful dithering on
Syria, the violence, which has been going on for more than a year, is
accelerating. The latest news is that two car bombs have exploded in
the center of Damascus, near an intelligence headquarters, killing at
least 55 people and injuring more than 350 others.

These types of attacks are a hallmark of al-Qaeda in Iraq. All
indications are that this terrorist organization has now migrated
from western Iraq into neighboring Syria where it is, in effect,
stoking another sectarian war pitting majority Sunnis against the
ruling Alawite minority (a Shiíite offshoot sect). Meanwhile, there
are credible reports of Prime Minister Nour al-Malikiís Shiíite-
dominated government apparently helping Bashar al-Assadís regime,
especially by serving as a conduit for Iranian assistance. In other
words, a deadly sectarian civil war is under way in Syria, and one
that, like previous civil wars in Lebanon and Iraq, is drawing in its
neighbors. We could be in for years of hellish, destabilizing
violence.

There is only way to restore some semblance of peace, and that is to
topple the Assad regime as expeditiously as possible. But that wonít
happen until the U.S. gets off the sidelines and, in cooperation with
our allies, extends more aid to the badly outgunned rebels. This New
York Times article makes clear the rebels are a mixed bag: some are
sectarian, others Islamist, still others more liberal in their
orientation. Obviously, al-Qaeda and its ilk are part of the mix. But
far from that being a reason not to help the rebels, it is all the
more reason why we must step forward so as to empower more moderate
rebel groups. Otherwise, we will leave an opening for the most
extreme jihadists to come to the fore.